Nail distributor



July 29, 1952 w. M. CUTLER EI'AL NAIL DISTRIBUTOR 1o Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Dec. 17, 1948 M Cutler Edwin S Kant Henry Inventors B Gr'eerzoughth ir July 29, 2 w. M. CUTLER HAL NAIL DISTRIBUTOR 1O Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Dec. 17, 1948 t wq w x 3 a l mm 6 I HenryBGmenwg/L [B t/qn'r ly1952 w. M. CUTLER EI'AL 2,604,624

NAIL DISTRIBUTOR 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 17, 1948 y m/m t m m 0mm wm km. eM vmmB Q h fww mm E M July 29, 1952 w. M. CUTLER EI'AL NAILDISTRIBUTOR Filed Dec. 17, 194

0 Sheets-Sheet 4 fig. 6'

J] 1-: I 151 19 5 494 f 4.95 66 679 4.95 44 fm/enzars Wallace M CutlerEdwin 16f Kama July 29, 1952 w. M. CUTLER EI'AL NAIL DISTRIBUTOR l0Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 17, 1948 3 [56 invenfars Wallace MCuzle jEdwin SKana NAIL. DISTRIBUTOR l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 W. M. CUTLER EI'AL July29, 1952 Filed Dec. 17, 1948 [TI/U9 ars Wcz llace 1W. Cu Her Edwin 5'.Karzz HnryB Greenouyh July 29, 1952 w. M. CUTLER EI'AL 2,604,624

NAIL DISTRIBUTOR Filed Dec. 17, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 v; i n 554 fly2;; 666 Inventors I Wa//ace M. Gut/er 602 Edwin S. K0777.

606 J 5/?(9777? 5. Greenouqh July 29, 1952 w. M. CUTLER ETAL NAILDISTRIBUTOR 1O Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 17, 1948 WaZZqce M Cutler[nuenlors shw y 29, 1952 w. M. CUTLER EI'AL 2,604,624

NAIL DISTRIBUTOR Filed Dec. 1'7, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 ':;l' m 0 F40XIXK 6:1

fhuntons F Wallace/TCuzf/er Kant Henry Greenou gh Patented July 29, 1952Wallace". M. Cutler, Gloucester, Henry B.

Greenough, Beverly, and Edwin S. Kant, Mel-1 rose, Mass., assignors toUnited. Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of.New Jersey Application December 17, 1948,'Serial No. 65,868- 15 Claims.(Cl. 1-39) This"- invention relates to .distributors for fa'steningsand. isillustrated as'embodiedfin a naildistributonfor use with' a heelattaching machine.

In United States; Letters 'Patent No.'1,381,240 granted June..14, 1921on an. application filed in the'name 'ofJoseph H. Pope, there isdisclosed. a nail'distributor having a nailcarrier which is.

vibrated upon vertically. disposed rocker arms operatively connected toan eccentric drive rotatable'in'a base of the distributor, said basebeing bolted to' the machine frame of a heel attaching machine withwhich the distributor is used. Vibratory movement of such a distributorshakes the heel attaching machine excessively and causes. considerablewear and tear on the distributor itself, with the result that thedistributor has to be serviced frequently. Moreover, the frequency ofvibration of the distributor of the above-mentioned type cannot beincreased without unduly shaking the heel attachingma chine uponwhich'it'ismounted and losing control of theinails in the distributor.Furthermore, it" is" desirable, both from economical and mechanicalviewpoints toprovide distributors in small units, one or more of whichmay be supplied "in accordance with the requirements of the work whichthe heel attaching machine .is to'operate upon. Heretofore it has beenimpossible'to supply distributors as separate small units foriuse'upon asingle frame of a heel attaching machine because the vibration of onedistributor rendered it difficult if not impossible tocontrol'thenailsfin the other distributor or distributo'rs;

Itis'an object of the present invention to provide an improveddistributor which is smooth andxreliable in its operation and willeffectively handle'nails of all lengths and which will stand up'underconstant'use with a minimum of repair and will not impart anysubstantial amount offvi'bration to'the heel attaching machine served,byitr' withtheabove object in view and inaccord ancewith afeature ofthe presentinvention the illustrative nail distributor comprises a nailcarrier, means for yieldingly supporting the. carrier for'movement ina'substantially horizontal path,

said carrier having, mounted in it a powered unit vis mounted upon theupper ends of vertically disposed leaf springs supported by a basesecured to a frame of a heel attaching machine, the pposite sides of theleaf springs facing generally lengthwise of nail guideways or racewaysof the machine so that'said carrier may be moved in a'horizontal pathextending generally lengthwise of said guideways' orraceways'butnotsubstan tially widthwise or heightwiseiof' the carrien.

The. poweredv unit whichis :rot'atable:irrtliecarriercomprisesaneccentric and mounted upon said eccentric is one end ofa'connectingirodz The above-mentioned resisting member" has the-- formof a heavy weight and is secured tot-the lower ends. of leaf springs"which are secured at their upper ends to the carrier and ihave'tlieir"sides facing. generally lengthwise 'of the patliriofmovement of thecarrier; When the powered unit is rotated the connecting roddisplacesthe" heavy weight with'relation to thecarrier'in a" horizontaldirection upon the leaf springs; whichf support. the weight, theresistance "offered by'said' weight causing the carrier to bemoved'inf'an opposite direction on its supporting springs; the" relativemasses of the carrier and .the weight being such that the carrier hasahorizontal 'dis-, placement'about one-third of that of the weight.

The throw of the connecting rod; and accord-- ingly thehorizontaldisplacement of the carrier; may be varied by changing the eccentricity:of the eccentric in the. powerediunit. Inord'ef to" insure that thecarrier shall not deviate substan tially from a horizontal path as itvibrates; the powered unit in accordance'with another feature of theinvention, comprises'mechanism'whichis movable in response to adjustmentof the'ec' centric and is operatively'connected to counterweights ofsaid unit'in orderto'counterbalance said unit irrespective of theeccentricityand ac:- cordingly-the throw of the eccentric. I

The present .invention consists in the above and other novel featureshereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying, drawingswhich illustrate embodiments of' the invention selected for purposes ofillustration; said inven tion being. fully set forth in theifollowingdescrip tion and claims.

In the. accompanying drawings:

, Figs. .1Iand'2 are'sideandxpl'an'viewsrespectively, partlybroken'away;showing the."i1lu'stra= tive nail distributor; I v

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partlybrokenaway; on line IIII-III ofLFig; 1,showing abase portion of the nail 'distributor'and-'inechanism'-mounted*thereon;

Fig. 4 is. an enlarged view;partly broken away, showing in planafront'portion' oi the distributor?- Fi'g. '5'is'a Viewon'line'V-V"of"Fig; 4 Show? ing. in "side elevation "a 'front'ga'te of"a -nail carrier of the distributor Fig. '6 is a section on "line VI -VI01mg showing a nail roll, a nail stop-and'conduit-into' which nails aredumped "from said roll;

Fig. '7 is a section on 1ine'VII''-VII of Fig; 3 showing cam"actuatedmechanism 'for opera-t ing the nail roll;

Fig. 8 is a section. on line 'VIII- VIII of Fig. 1 showing. in detail. aone-revolutionclutch housed in the nail roll.operating-camshown'"in Fig.'7:

Fig. 9 is a section on line IX-IX of Fig. 3 or looking to the right onthe axis of the pulley 60 in Fig. 1, showing portions of a main drivemounted in a base of the distributor;

Fig. 10 is a view on line X--X of Fig. 3 showing portions of cam andmanually operated mecha nism for stopping vibration of the carrier ofthe nail distributor;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation, partly broken away, showing a portion ofthe nail carrier and portions of mechanism for vibrating said carrier;

Fig. 12 is a section, partly broken away, on line X[I--XII of Fig. 11showing a dynamically counterbalanced variable displacement drive forvibrating-the nail carrier;

.Fig.'13' is a section-on line XIII-XIII of Fig. 12 showingin detailmechanism for varying the amplitude of vibration of the carrier;

Fig. 14 is a section on line XIV-XLV of Fig. 12 showing portions ofmechanism for automatically counterbalancing the variable dis-'-placement drive;

Fig. 14A is a diagram illustrating the paths of travel of centers ofmass of an eccentric and an adjacent half of a connecting rod on theone-hand and a counterweight on the other hand, asthe throw of theeccentric is varied;

.Fig. 15 is a section on line XV-XV of Fig. 2 showing raceway andnailway portions of the carrier;

Fig. 15A is a section on line XVA-XVA of Fig. 15, showing means forsecuring the nailways intheir proper operating relations to theraceways;

- Fig; 153 shows in perspective a nail stop used, as illustrated in Fig.15, to close, when desirable, raceways of the carrier;

. Fig- 16 shows on an enlarged scale a central part of the section shownin Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a detail view showing in side elevation portions of mechanismfor operating raceway and nailway clearers of the nail distributor;

Fig. 18 is a vertical section showing the forward end of the nailcarrier equipped with-a modified nail roll and nail roll operatingmechanism;

.Fig- 19 is a section on line XIX-XIX of Fig. '18;

Fig. 19A is a view on line XIXAXIXA of Fig. 18 showing in plan portionsof nail roll operating mechanism;

Fig. 20 is a section on line XX-XX of Fig. 19 showing in detail themodified nail roll;

Fig. 20A shows another modified roll which can be used'in place of theroll illustrated in Figs. 19 and 20; and V Figs. 21 and 22 are viewsshowing in side elevatiommechanism for operating the modified nail rollillustrated in Figs- 18, 19 and 20 at two stages in the operation ofsaid roll.

The illustrative nail distributor comprises a fixed base or main framewhich is secured by bolts 32 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) to a horizontal bracket34 (Fig. 1) forming part of a fixed frame (not shown) of a heelattaching machine.

Secured by bolts 36 (Figs. 1 and 3) to the base 30 of the distributorare front and rear pairs of vertically disposed leaf springs 38, i0,respectively, upper ends of which are secured by bolts 42 (Figs. 1 and2) to a nailcarrier 44. The carrier 44 comprises raceways 48 (Figs. 1,2, 11, 15- and '16) and nailways 48 (Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 15, 15A and18) as well as other elements hereinafter described for delivering, inresponse to movement of nail loading mechanism of said heel attachingmachine, nails 59 (Figs. 4, 6, 16 and 18) dumped from buckets 52(Fig. 1) of a rotary nail drum 54, head first into tubes 55, (Figs. 1and 5) upper ends of which are attached in slots 5'! (Figs. 18 and 19)of the carrier and lower ends of which are attached to a foot plate (notshown) forming part of the heel attaching machine.

It is desired to vibrate or oscillate the carrier 44 to cause the nails59 to travel down the raceways 49 and nailways 48. Accordingly, themachine is provided with mechanism, hereinafter described in detail, forvibrating the carrier upon the springs 38. it forward and rearward in ahorizontal path without any substantial heightwise or widthwisecomponent, the extent or amplitude of vibration of the carrier beingvaried in accordance with the length of construction of the nailsbeing-handled. As will be explained, inorder to insure against any uhbalanced forces being impartedv to thecarrier 54 and thus causing saidcarrier to vibrate out of its horizontal path, and especiallyheightwise, thereby losing control of nails in the raceways 96 andnailways 48, the mechanism for vibrating said carrier is dynamicallybalanced.

Power for operating the nail distributor is' supplied by a constantlyrotating motor (not shown) which is bolted to the bracket 34 and,through a V-belt 58 (Fig. 9), drives a pulley 69 (Figs. 1, 2,3 and 9)secured by screws 62 to an,

outer half 64 of a two-part pulley 66, said outer half being secured bythe screws 92 to an outer or hollow shaft 68 (Figs. 3 and 9) coupled bya pin H! to a solid shaft 12, said shafts 68, 72 being rotatable in ballbearings 14, E5 respectively mounted in the base 39. Also secured to thehollow shaft 63 by screws '16 is an inner portion 78 of a pulley 8i),inner and outer halves 82, 84- of the pulleys 56, 89 respectively havingsecured to them pins 38, 88 (Fig. 9) which fit slidingly in elongatedslots 99, 92 formed in the hollow shaft and also fit slidingly inelongated slots 93, 96 formed in an-inner shaft 98 (Figs. 3 and 9)longitudinally slidable in the hollow shaft 69. Mounted on the inner andouter halves 82, 84 of the pulleys 9%, 39 respectively are inner racesof ball bearings 199, E92 to outer races of which are secured beltreceiving drums I94, N35. The pins 86, 88 are engaged by opposite endsof a compressed spring 108 housed in the inner shaft 98, said springconstantly urging converging belt driving faces H9, i i2 of the pulleys66, 8d toward opposed belt driving faces of the respective pulleys. Bysliding the inner shaft 93 to the right and to the left, from itsposition shown in Fig. 9 the pulleys 99, 66 respectively may be renderedineffective. For reasons which will be explained later, when the pulley68 is rendered ineffective an upper distributor (not shown) normallydriven through a belt H4 (Figs. 2, 3 and 9) by the pulley E5 ceases tooperate and when the pulley B9 is rendered ineffective the carrigr 44ceases to vibrate on the leaf springs 38, 4

The inner shaft 98 is slid lengthwise of the outer shaft 68 by a yoke H6(Figs. 3, 9 and 10) which is secured bya screw Ill to a fulcrum rod H8journaled in the base 39, sides of the yoke having slots I29 in whichfit trunnions I22 carried by an annulus [2% (Figs. 3 and 9) secured toan outer race of a ball bearing i26, an inner race of which isbindinglyfixed to a sleeve [28 slidingly mounted upon the outer shaft68. A pin I30 secured to the sleeve I28 and to the inner the pulley 66will 'b'e" moved away fidm th'e outer half 6 4 of: suchpul-1e'y,'"-threbymoving the *driw ing -face J I bf the pulley away froman-opposed driving face of' said pulley and rendering the be'ltII4*'-'inefle' ':tive. similarly-f when the yoke I IB -is v p 10.scribed to cause.the.-shaker:shaft assembly 136 swung' 'clockwi'se fromits" positioh sh'own' 111 1 15;-

9' during the. dumpingofnails 50 froma nail roll? .I 345- the -outerhalfM nithe pully M lsmovedawayfromtthe-inner'half 'lfl of said 'pulley totrenderlthe pulley ineffective-thus stopping -'-ro'-' tationiyoffi'arshaker shaft assembly" I36?" which" wi1l be'-des'cr'ibed in detail laterand is operate'd bytabelt .I 38 'dr-ivei'r by the pulley 80. 1

Arranged? in alinement WitH-the'SHaffiGB i's-"the solid shaft 7 2whi'chi-has fixed to it' a worm I 40' I42 "?(Ei 9): secured to alongitudina'l shait l 44- bearings I46 (FigSFI 'and -B) 'in 'the =base30 5- Siilihedir ro tation with but movable lengthwise 'of thesh'aft*25; fulcrum rod IIB'isa triangularplate 20'8 (Figs 3 and )-whichcarries'a pair ofs'tuds 2I0, -2I 2.

to gethenand are rotated-with but are slid length-- wise? :of: the shaftI 44' Toya yoke=shaped *shifter I523 fingers -of. whichare'arrarrged"adjacent to' oppositeisides of thegears;

Mountediidi "rotation 'bea rings -I 54'' basei30 is" ailongitudin alshaft 5 I 56 (Fig n thesand I Iifliarranged I overlapping relation- "asviewed iniplanflFigi 3) i'with the gears I l-8, 359 'vvhich; as? above?stated; 'may be'i slid len'gthwise ofthe I 48, E: I 50. linth meshingrelation-with the gears" I 58 .II 60E-firespectively f or, if desirable,-to--*m'ov'e-- the gears I483 lfifl 'into neutral position' 'showndescribed; 1 at different-' operatingzrspeeds; or to moveethegears-l 48;l State/neutral -po'sitions' out of a engagement with theagearsr i 5831692%: stop rotation of the shaft I56 and according-w tnenail drum-54wPinned to-theshaft" l56"*isia nail tegralawith. a pulley I fifi'whichidrivesi througha belt I III -(Figs: l and=$3),-a pulley ln'iformed:

integral-with a nail: drum supporting zsle'eve I I4 mounted upon-abearing arod I lt securedi-to the base-30; The-*naildrumi 54*: is lofeaconventional type --andhas a "cylindrical: face z l l8" :(FigI-l) in"-engagemen-t: with bosses-'::oi:theinailziidrum sup porting sleeves-3I66I14 -and a circumferential rib I80 which fits in V-sh-ap'ed: circulargrooves:

Mounted upon theforward end of the shaft and 22) 4 which housesria:oneq'evolution"fclutch;

said" clutch being operated: during each: "cycle! of the heel--attachingmachine in response to mech-:

anism I hereinafter-r described I and .'.comprising a rod I88 -(Figs2'1, 2 and-'3). operated by.v annarm: I 90 (Fig.1.3) which supports a-loaderl block rxl92" lohgated s'lots I 32 *:(Figz 91 m the outersha'ft'tili' It will thus beapparent that when' the yoke I I 6 'is swungcounte'rclock wise as viewed in Fig. 9fthe inher' half '82 of2 cam rollI96; and said cam; hasiinifits 'rearrface:

mechanism which will bedescribed presently, to the yoke' :I I 6; Theyoke I I 6, as aboveexplained,- cooperates with: mechanism hereinafter-(16-- (Fig..12) to be rendered. ineffective and accord the nail r011 I34: isbeing operatedr thereby insuring aga'inst nails being H fed :down:therace 5 ways 46and-nailways48 while the-nail rollfiis the nails from-the' roll I34" into conduits zm', (Figs. 4; 6 'and- 18) whichwillwbereferred' to v later,- a'major portionzof the face 1-94 of thezeam:

I86" is' serrate'd' as above stated so -that the-roll 1 and 4)as=thenails' are'beingdumped;

Pinned to the' front f end of the yoke carrying"- Threadeda into aforward extension 'of the lever 202 is' a bearing stud- 2I4-(Figsi'3and-10 upon which ispivoted with 'a slight amount of play a handlev'erZIIi provided with =an elongatedslot 2I-8 fur -receiving the stud2I9 and a loo're 22ll ahead of the "stud 2 I'4 'servest0 urge' theleveragainst thexplate' 208l- When'the hand lever 2 I6 ZOZLJand the' yok'e II6 are secured for move ment' together; the lever 1202 actuated bytheduring i theoperative cycle of th'e' machiner 'the of th'e carrier 44. IWhen' it is desired to render the pulley "6I5 ineffec'ti've andac'eordingly: to stop an upper distributor (not shown) actuated by thebelt I I4 on said pulle'y the whand-lever =2 I 6 is 1 swung 1 forwardslightly-i against the action'' of" the spring 222; away-from theplate208='causin'g" 50113118 bore '22D "to 'be'come disengagedfromuthestud 2I2, said hand leverthereafter beingswung' clockwiseasviewed' in"FigE 10 upon the stud 2 l4 with the result that the 'yoke'I I6 is swung counterclockwise and the inner shaft 'is=s1id to the leftitoirender the pulley' tfi'inefie'ctiveu When it is desired to render:inefieetive the-pul-ley 88 and'accordi-ngly' the sh'aker shaft assembly"I 36,

the" hand lever: 2 I6 is swungaway -from"- theplate 29'8,cau'sing the:bore: 220" to be *dis'engaged' from GOthe stud 2I2, and-is' thereafterswung upwardabout the stud 2I'4-causing the-outenportion 84of the pulley80 130 be moved awa-y fromthe inn'erportion 18" of such pulley-tdrendei' said pulley ineffective. f I82 of -said'sleev'es:- The-isleevesI66; ?I'I4"are also provided with grooves .I 84- for"' supporting a different typeof 119,111 drum :(not i shown)? its? nail .receiving toitsnail dumpin'gposition comprises'the cam roll l96 which is carried byI94 (Figs. 1, 7 'andi'IOJ- a major po'rti'on of which: is deeply"serrated :and which is engaged :by@ a:

ingly vibration of the carrier 44 to cease whilei displaced from itsnail receiving position shown intFigC-(i; m orderto -expedite' thedumping ofshall be vibrated slightly about its axis 206 (Figs? forreceiving the-stud 2 I2; A- coil spring 222- which 'ais interposedbetween theilever 2I6 -and* is positioned"as -i1lustrated in 'Fig.-= lo'the lever" cam: I 86 serving -'-'to' a move, through meehanism I 40above' described; the inner 'shaft 98 to the right from thepositionshown in 9 to --render,"

pulley 'inefiectiva and 'thu'sto stop vibration Mechanism for 'operatingth'e nail roll-I 3'4 from'-- 238 of the nail roll I34. Attached to theupper end of the lever 239 is a spring 239 the forward end of which issecured to the carrier 44, said spring serving during a portion of thecycle of operation of the distributor toretain the cam roll I96 againstthe face I94 of the cam I86. Secured to the nail roll I34 is an arm 231having threaded into it a screw 233 which when the nail roll is in itsnail receiving position shown in Fig. 6 is held by the spring 239 inforced engagement with a stop plate 236 secured to the carrier 44.

The cam I86 houses a one-revolution, clutch which is actuated bymechanism hereinafter described upon movement of the loader blockcarrying arm I98 toward the above-mentioned nailing die (not shown) ofthe heel attaching machine. The clutch comprises a collar 249 (Fig. 8)which has a plurality of notches 24L and which is secured to thelongitudinal shaft I44 (Figs. 3, 9 and 17) and fits in a cylindricalrecess 242 of the cam. Pivotally mounted upon a pivot pin 244 carried bythe cam I86 is a pawl 246 one end of which is adapted to enter one ofthe notches 24I of the collar and an abutment end 248 (Figs. 1, 7 and 8)of which extends is constantly urged counterclockwise as viewed a inFig. 8 by a spring-pressed plunger 252 slidable in a bore 253 of the camI86. The pawl 246 is normally urged to its idle position shown in Fig. 8by depressor 254 having a lower face 256 which is engaged by theabutment end 248 of the pawl to withdraw the pawl from one of thenotches 24I when the clutch is engaged and the cam is being rotated bythe shaft I44.

The loader block I92 is mounted upon the arm I90 which is verticallyslidable upon an upright splined shaft 258 (Fig. 3) and which afterbeing moved from a lowered nail receiving position adjacent to a nailtube holder (not shown) of the machine is raised to a predeterminedposition shown in dash lines (Fig. 3) on said shaft, the shaft 258thereafter being rotated in a main frame of the heel attaching machineto effect swinging movement of the loader arm i98 and accordinglycorresponding movement of the loader block I92 to a position above thenailing die (not 1 shown) of the machine preparatory to dumping nailsreceived from the nail tube holder (not shown) into passages of thenailing die. As the loader arm 98 moves clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3with the shaft 258 (Fig. 3) a plate 269 secured by a screw 262 to thearm engages a U-shaped latch 264 (Figs. 2 and 3) mounted upon a fulcrumpin 266 supported by the rod I88 which is slidinglymounted in a bore 268of a bracket 2') constituting part of the distributor base 39. A pin 212carried by the latch 264 is normally forced into engagement with the rodI88 by an initially loaded spring 274 (Fig. 3) which encircles the pin266 and bears with constant pressure against the inside of the latch. Asthe plate 260 swings clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3 it rides over andaway from the latch 264, allowing the rod I88 to move back to its restposition shown in Fig. 3 with a shoulder of the arm bearing against ashoulder 216 of the bracket 279 under the action of a strong spring 278which is operatively connected to the rod I88 and will be described indetail later. As the loader arm I99 swings counterclockwise back to itsposition (Fig. 3) preparatory to being lowered to a position adjacent tothe nail tube holder (not shown) the plate 268 engages an outer inclinedface of the latch which yields against the action of the spring 214,enabling the plate of the loader arm to override the latch, which thenassumesits position shown in Fig. 3.

The depressor 254 is secured by screws 288 (Fig. 3) to the centralportion of a fulcrum rod 282 (Figs. 1, 3, 7, 21 and 22) which issupported for rotation in the base 39 and has clamped to it by a screw284 a block 286. Extending forward and rearward through the upperportion of the block 286 is a recess 288 (Figs. 1, 7, 21 and 22)comprising cylindrical and frusto-conical portions 298, 292, thecylindrical portion having a shoulder 294. When the nail distributor isidle and during a major portion ofits operation a rod 296 screwed into alink 298 extends into and engages the bottom of the cylindrical portion290 of the recess 288 of the block 286, the rear end of the rod beingarranged adjacent to the shoulder 294 as shown in Figs. 21 and 22. Thefulcrum rod 282 and accordingly the block 286 and the depressor 254 arebiased to their positions shown in Figs. 1, 21 and 22 in which thedepressor 254 engages a stop 299, by an initially loaded torsion spring388 opposite ends of which are attached to the rod and to the base 32.The link 298 is pivoted to the upper end of a lever 302 secured by ascrew 364 to a pivot pin 356 mounted in the base 38, a lower end of saidlever being pivoted to a link 398 into which the operating rod I88 isthreaded, said rod as above explained being normally urged to the rightas viewed in Figs. 1, 21 and 22 by the torsion spring 218 one end ofwhich is attached to the pivot pin 386 and the other end of which isattached to the base 38. It will be apparent that when the rod I88 ismoved to the left as viewed in Figs. 1, 3, 21 and 22 it will move theblock 266 clockwise, causing the depressor 254 to swing away from theabutment end 248 of the pawl 246 with the result that the pawl acted onby the spring-pressed plunger 252 enters one of the recesses 24I of thecollar 240 and locks the cam I86 for rotation with the collar 248 andaccordingly the shaft I44. It will be apparent that the rod 296 afterswinging the block 286 to its position shown in Fig. '7's1ides off theshoulder 294 and plunges through the frusto-conical recess 292, said rodbeing immediately retracted to its starting'position by the spring 218into a position in which the end of the rod engages the bottom of thecylindrical recess 299 adjacent to its forward end.

In order to insure that the depressor 254 shall not immediately snapback against the abutment end 248 of the pawl 246 under the action ofthe spring 389 as soon as the rod 296 leaves the shoulder 284 of theblock 286, the fulcrum rod 282 has secured to it by the screws 268 aforwardly extending boss 3!!! in which is slidable a spring-pressedplunger 3I2. When the block 286 is moved clockwise to its position shownin Fig. 7 the plunger 3I2 overrides a shoulder 3I4 of the lever 224,causing the depressor 254 to be held temporarily in its forward positionout of the way of the abutment end 248 of the pawl 246. When theabove-described mechanism for operating the nail roll I34 is actuated bythe rotation of the cam I86 the shoulder 3I4 of the lever 224 is tippeddownward with the result that the torsion spring 389 causes the springpressed plunger 3I2 to be retracted against its spring and the depressorto be swung back to a retracted position against the stop 299. When thedepressor 254 is thus positioned it is engaged by lowered by rotatingthe screws 398,-the racks 392 being'secured in their adjusted positionstothe blocks 396 by set screws 4H] which are threaded into the blocksand are constructed and arranged to have their ends forced intoengagement with the racks.

In order to insure against short nails somersaulting just after theytravel head-ends first over the corners or edges 384 of the raceways 46the balancing bar 386 has secured to it an abutment 414 which extendsdownward toward'the 54 there is secured to the balancing bar andarranged overlying the sluice portions 3820f the raceways 46 an apron4l6(Figs. 2 and 15) which deflects the above-mentioned nails laterally anddownwardly into recesses 4! (Fig. 2) at the lateral portions of thecarrier 44.

The plateau and sluice portions 3I6, 382 of the raceways 46 are formedintegral and are also formed integral'with the main body of the carrier44.- Since the nailways 48 are changed in accordance with the style andany substantial change in the length of the nail, said nailways areformed separately from the carrier 44 and are readily secured inoperating positions in the carrier. The nailways 48 have rearwardextensions 428 (Figs. 15 and 15A) fitting in slots 422 (Fig.'15A) of aheader 424 secured to a rabbeted lower end of the sluice portions 382 ofthe raceways 46 by screws 426 which pass through partitions 428 of theraceways and into the header. Before being placed in the carrier 44 thenailways 48 are assembled in the slots 422 of the header 424 and aresecured in said slots by nuts threaded onto L-shaped retaining studs 432which are inserted in lateral bores of the nailways and pass throughvertical bores in the header. Threaded into two or more of thepartiti'ons 428 are screws 434 which bear upon the top of the nailwayextensions 420, said screws serving to bring the forward ends of thenailways 48 up into alinement with passages or guideways 436 of the nailroll I34. in the carrier 44 the forward pair ofscrews 426 are tightenedafter which the screws 434 are adjusted to move the forward ends of thenailways up intoalinement with the nail roll passages 436. The rear'pairof screws 426 are then tightened to clamp the nailways 48 in theiradjusted operating positions. part of the raceways 46 but are identifiedseparatelyin the description since they are notformed integral with thecarrier and their construction is slightly different from that of theraceways. Both the raceways'46 and the nailways 48 may be considered asnail guides and described as such.

.The, trunnion'portions 238 of the nail roll I34 which may also bereferred to as a selector are mounted for rocking movement in bores 438,438A (Figs. 1, 2 and which are formed in the carrier 44 and in bearingblocks 448 detachably secured to-the carrier. Secured by screws 442(Fig. '5)

to" the carrier are latches 444 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5) In incorporatingnailways 48 The nailways 48 may be considered .by springs 416.

faces of the detents in engagement with the bottoms of the slots. Thedetents 452 are constantly urged clockwise as viewed in Fig. 5 into theslots 456 by springs 458, respectively, the lower ends of which aresecured to the shanks 446 and the upper ends of which engage thedetents. The nail roll I34 may be quickly and effectively positioned inthe carrier 44 after removing the bearing blocks 446 which arethereafter slid down over the shanks 446 of the latches 444 against thetrunnion'portions 238 of said roll, thedetents 462 then-being arrangedto enter the slots456 in the blocks to hold said blocks in theiroperating positions. After the nail roll I34 has been properly journaledin the carrier 44 which may be said to includethe blocks 446, the link232 pivoted to the arm 234 secured to the left trunnion portion 238 ofthe roll is adjusted to position the nail passages 436 of the r011 I34in alinement with the lower ends of the nailways 48.

When short nails are being distributed the conventional type of roll I34is used, said roll having the transverse passages 436 (Figs. 4, 6 and15) which extend from the rear cylindrical periphery of the roll to asegmental cutout portion defined by a face 466 in which the passagesterminate and a face 462 which is continuous with the lower faces of thepassages. Secured to the left trunnion portion 238 of the roll i34, asviewed from the front of the machine, is the arm 234 which isoperatively connected to the roll I66. When the cam I86 is rotatedclockwise as viewed from the front of the distributor, the nail rollI34, in the passages 436 of which the nails rest with their head-ends inengagement'with a'nail step 464 (Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6 and 18), is rotatedcounterclockwise (Fig. 6) causing the nails to be dumped into theconduits 284 which are formed by front slotted portions 466 of thecarrier and rear faces 468 of projecting ribs of a front gate 418. Thecarrier 44 and the front gate 418 may be described as havinginterfitting slot and tongue portions. The'nail stop 464 is secured atits opposite ends to rods 4'12 which are slidingly mounted in bores ofholders 414 and are normally urged rearward, th'atis, to the right asviewed in Figs. 1, 5 and 18, The nail stop 464 is formed integral with aplate 418 covering the upper end of the front gate-410. The holders 414have downwardly turned flanges fitting in front or rear pairs of grooves.488 formed at opposite ends of th'e front gate 4lll,"the nail stopbeing commonly forced yieldingly against upper faces of the frontslotted portion 466 of the carrier 44 ing the holders 414 against theaction of thesprings 462 and positioning the downwardly extending'fianges of the holders into the rear grooves 486. Thisvwill enable thedistributor to handle short nails whichvmay be only slightly during thenail dumping operation yielding forwardly against the action of thesprings 416 under pressure applied by the face 468 of the 'rollagainstthe nail stop as said roll rotates counterclockwise (Fig. 6) to dump thenails into the conduits 468.

- As will be explained presently,- the front gate 418 is pivotallyadjusted with relation to the carrier 44 in accordance with thelengthsof the nails being distributed to vary the lengthwise"cross-sectional dimension indicated-by reference numeral 496 (see- Fig.18) of the conduits 284 to insure against nails somersaulting in saidconduits and in order to vary the space between the nail stop464 and thenail roll I34. The conduits 264 which are formed-by the slots "492 atthe front portion of the carrier and the rear faces 4680frearwardly-projecting flanges or ribs of 'the front gate 410 havedownwardly converging upwardly diverging'front and rear faces the 'widthof the conduits remaining constant.

It has been 'found'thatif the dimension "496 o'f the conduit-284 issomewhat greater than the length of the nail there is a tendency forsaid nail to somersault in the conduit and accordingly fall Wrong endforemost, that is, point end-down 'into the-tube: 56. the front gate 410is movable forward and rear- Ward into different angularly adjustedpositions about an axis- 494 (Figs. 4, and 18) of. trunnions 496 formedintegral with said gate, in accordance with the length of :the nailsbeing handled, the nail stop 464 beingadjusted with the gate.

The front gate- 418 is supported by a pair of brackets 498 mounted uponthe'front end of the carrier 44 and having bores-508- (Figs. 5 and 18)for receiving the trunnions'496-0f said gate.

The:- brackets T1 498 are also provided with bores 582, 584 which'slidingly fit onto pins 506and screws 508 (Fig. 5) secured tothecarrier, the screws 588 having threaded onto theirouter ends nuts 5|8.- Coiled --.around the screws-588 and surrounding the screws andinterposed between the plates: 498 and the nuts 5l8 are portions ofsprings 512 opposite laterally'extending ends of which -engage the.plates and thecarrier and serve to force the plates againsthat'vertical surfacesof the carrier. The front gate- 418 can be: quicklyremoved from the carrier by man- -ually moving the brackets 498laterally outward With the foregoing .in view,

against-the action of gthespringsl'filZ- to cause withdrawal ofthe-bores 568 of the brackets from the-trunnions' 496. w

A latch-5l4 (Figs. 1,-- 4 and 5) -is provided-for adjustablysecuringthefront gate 418-,in dife ferentadjusted positions. about the axis 494 ofthe trunnions 496. :The latch-5l4 comprisesa =block 5I6 pivoted upona-pin-5l'8 carried by the f-rontgate 410 and constantly-urged upwardabout said pin by a torsion I spring 528 a -portion of which isattachedto the pin and another portion of=-which 'bearsagainst theunder part ofa stud -522'-carried by the block. 'Rotatably mounted inian undercutrecess 524 of the block 516 is a 'knurle'd nut L 52 6, said nut andblock 4 having alinedbores ion-receiving a.=-rod z528,'--the frontportion of -w-hich-is threaded into' thenut and the rear end ofwhich-has a slot 538-for receiving a-piri 532 secured to the carrier44'. The front gate '4-18--may'- be lowered away from the! carrier 44after raising the-:rodi528-=away from the'pin 532 and the angularlyadjustedpositiom o'fithe front "gateupon the carrier'maybe variedzbyrotating the nuts 526.

-Power-for vibrating: the carrier- '44 is supplied by the belt I38"which operates a pulley534 (Figs. 1,2'and-12) forming 'partof theshakershaft assembly [36. -An -innerportion536 (Fig. 12) of the pulley' 534 iskey'edto a hollow shaft or sleeve 538 'which is' rotatable in ballbearings 540 mounted-in the carrier 44 and which has an eccentricportion 542 provided with grooves'544 for receiving tongues-546 ofanecce'ntric portion 548 of a shaft 550rotat'ab1e' in bearings'552of thecarrier 44. The hollow=-shaft"or sleeve 538 and the shaft-556 arerotatable about a common axis 554 -(Figs. 2',*13and 14)--and form'ineffecta "single shaft and have eccentric'portions 556,558

respectively whichareofiset axially from' the eccentric portions 542g548. Each of the eccentric portions 5565558 is'of the same size as, and

is offset circumferentially of the shaft from, the adjacent half ofthecombined eccentric portions 542; 548. It will thus be clear that thecombined shaft 5385 550 itself is dynamically balanced.

Mounted upon theeccentric portions 556,"- 558 "are counterweights 560which, as 'will beex- 'ball bearing 518. Secured to' an outer-race 512582' (Figs 2 and 11) to the carrier 44. Theleaf springs 38, 48 and 580may be described as having sides whi'chfacegenerally lengthwiseof thenail guides and of the path of vibration of'the carrier. An outerportion of the pulley 534 carries a plurality of guide pins 584 (Fig.'12) which extend transversely through the inner portion 536 of thepulley," the'outer portion of said pulley being urged constantly towardthe innerportion of the pulley by a'spring'586 (Figs. 1, 2 and 2) toclose a' belt receiving' groove 588 (Fig. 12)

Fitting in a bore 598 of the sleeve 538, which bore is'concentric withthe'axis of rotation 554 is an adjusting rod 592 which may be rotatedinto different adjusted positions about said axis by the use of asuitable tool fitting in a transverse 'hole 594 (Fig. 12) in the outerend portion of the rod. The rod'592 is secured indifferent ad- 1 orderto move the eccentric 564 into different adjusted positions ontheeccentric portions 542,

548 of theshaft538, 550 the rod'592 has formed 'in it twobores600 (Figs.12 and 13) and in'said .bo'resare secured pins 602 which extend throughvarcuate slots684 in: the-eccentric portions-.542, -5481and have theirends. extending into ;.bores 86 (Rigs13.) :iormed zim the: eccentric5,64. r It-iwill 5980f the inner portion 536 of the pulle 55 1 therebyclamping said extensions to said rod and thus locking together forrotation the shaft 538, 555, the pulley and the rod.

As the eccentric 555 is rotated at a constant speed of-1300 R. P. M.about the axis of rotation 554 of the shaft 538, 559 the carrier 54 isdisplaced substantially horizontally. The inertia ratio cf the weight515 and the carrier 54 is such that the weight has three times thedisplacement of the carrier, the maximum displacement of said carrierbeing approximately of an inch. The inertia ratio of the carrier 44 andthe weight '15 may be varied if'desirable by increasing or decreasingthe mass of said weight 576. It will be apparent that the displacementof the carrier 54 may be reduced from A of an inch by adjusting theouter eccentric 564 as above described.

By operating the shaker shaft assembly i155 at 1300 R. P. M. as comparedwith 750 R. P. M. as in the distributors now in use, the progress of thenails down the raceways 4'5 and the nailways '48 is substantiallycontinuous and smooth. It is desirable to vary the magnitude of thevibratory displacement of the carrier 45 in accordance with the lengthof the nail being distributed, the desirable displacement being lessthan the distance between the centers of length-and gravity of the nail,thereby insuring that the nails shall tip slowly and progressively headends first from the plateau portions 316 of the raceway into the sluiceportions 352 of the raceway. It is also desirable to insure against anyheightwise displacement of the carrier 5'5 since such displacement tendsto bounce the nails in the raceways 55 and nailways 48 and interfereswith the progressive movement of the nails to the nail roll 134. thatthe carrier 45 shall have a minimum of side sway as it is vibrated andaccordingly the weight of the carrier is so distributed that its centerof mass lies in a vertical plane which is approximately equidistantbetween the pairs of springs 3'8, 45. In order to counterbalance theshaker shaft assembly I35 there are provided the abovementionedcounterweights 550 which are mounted upon the eccentric portions 556,558 of the shaft 5'35, 555 and are automatically rotated into differentoperating positionsupon said eccentric portions simultaneously withadjustments to change the throw of the eccentric 542, 553. For thepurpose of rotating the counterweightsthe adjusting shaft 592 hassecured to it a pair of ins 5H) (Figs. 12 and 14) which fit in arcuateslots BIZ of the eccentric portions 556, 558 and into bores 6M of thecounterweights. It will be apparent that when the adjusting shaft 552 isrotated clockwise as viewed in Fig.y13 in the shaft 538,- 555, as abovedescribed, it will rotate the eccentric 554 upon the eccentric portions542, 558. The variable displacement drive above described comprisesmechanism for rotating the eccentric 56 4 into diiferent angularlyadjusted positions upon the eccentric portions 552, 548 of the shaft538, 555 to vary the throwof thec'on-' necting rod 514 and forsimultaneously rotat- Moreover it is desirable to insure 1'6 ing; degreefor degree with the eccentric, the c-ounterweights 560 about theeccentric portions 556, 558 of said shaft, thereby maintaining theshaker shaft assembly I36 in dynamic balance for all adjustments of theeccentric.

When the eccentric 564 is arugularly adjusted about the center line 552of the eccentric portions 542, 545 to its position shown in Fig. 13, theconnecting rod 574 has its greatest throw of about 7 of an inch. In the,illustrative construction the center line 562 is arranged midway betweenthe center line 566 of the eccentric 555 and the axis 555 of the shaft538, 555. The eccentric 554 is so constructed and arranged that itscenter of mass is located on the axis 556 which is equidistant fromsurface portions of the eccentric 56'4 upon which the inner races 558 ofthe ball bearings 5'35 are mounted. It will thus be clear that when theeccentric 555 is rotated clockwise from its position shown in Fig. 13upon the eccentric portions 542, 548 by the above described mechanismthe locus or path of a point on the center line 566 where the mass ofthe eccentric plus an adjacent half of the connecting rod isconcentrated is a semicircle 603 terminating at the axis 554. It will beapparent that when the said point on the center line 556 coin cides withthe axis 554 the connecting rod has no throw. I

When the eccentric 564 is positioned as illustrated in Fig. 13 thecounterweights 555, which may be considered collectively as a two-partcounterweight and will be referred to as such, are positioned upon theirassociated eccentric portions 556, 558 as illustrated in Fig. 14. Whenthe parts are thus positioned a center line 805 through the eccentricportions 556, 558 of the shaft 538, 550 lies in a plane which includesthe axis 554 and the center lines 562 and 565 and is also parallel tosaid axis and is positioned the same distance at one side of said axisas the center line 562 is positioned at the opposite side of said axis.

The two-part counterweight has a mass equal to thatof the eccentric 564plus the mass of an adjacenthalf of the connecting rod, including itsbearing, said counterweight being so constructed and arranged that itscenter of mass lies in a line 601 (Fig. 14A), parallel to the axis 555in a plane which includes the axis 554 and the center lines 555, 552 and555, the center lines 555 and 657 being equally spaced at opposite sidesof the axis 555. Moreover, the center of mass also lies in a planedisposed at right angles to the axis 554 and including, the center ofmass of the eccentric 55 5 and the adjacent half of the connecting rod514. It will, therefore, be,

' clear that if the counterweights 555 are rotated clockwise on theirrespective eccentrics 556, 558 from their positions illustrated in Fig.14 the locus or path of a point on a line 607, which passes through thecenter of mass of the two-part counterweight and is, parallel to theaxis 554; is a semicircle 505 (Fig. 14A), the inner end of whichcoincides with the axis 554. It will thus be clear, when a line 6Hindicating the angle alpha of adjustment of the eccentric 564 and thetwo-part counterbalance about theirrespective eccentric portions isdrawn through the axis 554 intersecting the semicircles 603 and 609,which represent the loci of. the centers of unbalanced'mass of theeccentric 564 and an adjacenthalf of its connecting rod on the one handand the two-part counterweight on the: other hand, that said centersofmass are equidistant 17- fromthe axis 554 irrespective of the angle ofadjustment and, since the masses are equal, the two unbalanced masseswill counterbalance each other, thereby insuring that the shaker shaftassembly I36 is at all times counterbalanced.

The variable displacement drive and the mechanism for dynamicallybalancing said drive forms the subject matter of United states LettersPatent No. 2,561,344, granted July 24',- 195 1, on anapplication filedin our names, I

When the pulley belt I38 (Figs. 1 3, 9 and i2) is rendered ineffectiveupon actuation of the nail ro'll driving mechanism above described,there isa tendency for the shaker shaft assembly I36 to continue torotate. Accordingly, there is se cured to the outer end oilthe fulcrumpin 228 (Fig. 1) an. arm '6'I-3 which is connected by .a spring 615 to abrake lever BI Iwwhichis pivoted uponwa pin 618 secured to the carrier.During thetfirs't part of the clockwise (Fig. 1) nail roli'du'mpingmovement of the pivot pin 228 the brake lever 6 I I is movedcounterclockwise against adrum EZI-secured to the shaft 558, therebystopping rotation of said shaft as soon as the beltv has becomeinactive.

Nail distributors heretofore proposed have not been. able to handlenails longer than 22/8, one; of the. diflicu-lties being that such nailscannot-bevibrated down the raceways and effectively dumped into theconduits fast enough to keep up with the operation of the machine beingserved. By making. the carrier. 44- smooth and evenph-ased in itsoperation, together with increasing considerably the rate of vibrationoi said carrier, longer nails can be handled by the present distributorthan by prior distributors. Shoe manufacturers have recently been calledupon to attach to shoes heels which require nails 28/8 inches in length.When nails. of such length are used it is desirable to modify thepresent machine as will be hereinafter described. Extremely high heelsare commonly attached to shoes by seven nails and since the illustratedcarrier 44- has fourteen raceways 4-6 and nailways 48 it is; proposed,to pick" nails alternately from adjacent nailwaysand tocause them todrop intoadjacent conduits 284 (Figs.- 4, 6 and 18) connected-to,branches BIG (Figs. 18- and 1-9) of tubes 61-8 (-Fig. 19) which aresecured at their lower ends to the above-mentioned foot plate (notshown). With such a construction it will be apparent that since thenails are removed from a given group of seven of the nailways48 onlyduring every other cycle of operation of the heel attaching machine theywill have ample time to slide down the raceways- 46 and nailways 48 intopositions to be transferredto the conduits 204 by the nail roll. Whenextremely. long nails are; being distributed the nail roll I 34 may havesubstituted for it a cylindricalxnail .roll 628,, the bearing blocks 448being quickly removed from the carrier 44 proparatory to removing theroll I34 and substituting for it said cylindrical roll; In'efiectingthis changeover it also-is necessary, after placing the bearing blocks448 in position upon the carrier 44, to" attach, 'toa left trunnionportion 622 (Fig. '19) of the nail roll, operating mechanism illustratedin Figs.- 18;, l9,-'19A, 20 and 21.

:The cylindrical nail roll 628 has extending through it at equaldistances from planes 624, 626 (Fig. 20) which are disposed at rightanglesto each other and extend through an axis of rotation 62'8 of theroll. two longitudinal series of pairs of nail passages 63!] (Figs. 18,1'9 and 20). The pairs of passages 638 of one longitudinal series aredisposed at right angles to and are alternately staggered longitudinallyand circumferentially with relation to the pairs of passages of theother longitudinal series. Nails delivered by alternate nailways 48 arereceived head ends first as illustrated in Fig. 18 .by the rear ends ofthe passages 639 which correspond to the passages 435 of the roll I34,said passages 638, when receiving nails, being positioned just above theaxis of rotation 628 of the roll and being inclined at the same angle,approximately 5} as the nailways 48.

Instead of oscillating or rocking the nail roll 6-2 8 as in the case ofthe roll I34 above described, the roll 620 is rotated 90 in two stagesduring each cycle of the heel attaching machine being served by thedistributor. The lever 238 (Figs. 1, 3, 7, 21 and 22) which is actuatedby the shaft 228, has operatively connected to its upper end. mechanismwhich will be presently described and cooperates with spaced ratchets 632, 634 secured to a collar 635 keyed to the roll 628, the arrangementbeing such that the roll is rotated about its axis 628 (Figs. 19 and 20)counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 18 approximately 75 to cause thenails which are in the passages B30 and have their ends in engagementwith the nail stop 464 (Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6 and 18) to' be dumped into theconduits 284. After a slight dwell in the dumping position the roll 628again moves 15 counterclockwise, bringing upper passages 638, of thelongitudinally and circumferentially oiiset pairs of passages arvrangedat right angles to the passages from which the nails have been dumped,into alinement with n'ailways 48 adjacent to the nailways 4-8 whichsupplied the prior load of nails. 7

As above explained, adjacent conduits 204 which may be considered asportions of the branches 6I6 of the tubes BIB are connected to saidtubes, each of said tubes receiving in succession nails, first from oneand then from the other of adjacent nailways 48-. trated distributor hasfourteen raceways 4,6 .and

nailways 48 it will be apparent that each time the associated heelattaching machine is operated seven nails are dropped through the seventubes BIB. This number can be increased if desirable by placing asimilardistributor above the illustrated distributor, such additionaldistributor being operated by the belt I I4 to drive a pulley similar tothe pulley 80. p

In the illustrated machine the angle. at which the nailways 48- areinclined to the horizontal is about 5 as compared with an angle of 15which is the angle at which the nailways of distributors now widely inuse are disposed to the horizontal. To be able to reduce the incline ofthe nailways 48 is of distinct advantage since such reduction lessens,to a considerable extent, the tendency of the nails delivered from thesluice portions 382 of the raceways 46 to ride over each other as theyenter the upper portions of the nailways.

In order to rotate the nail roll 628 step by step I in one directiontoeffect proper dumping of nails into the tubes BIB there is pivoted tothe upper end of the lever 238 a pair of adjustable rods 536-, 638(Figs. 18, 21 and 22) the forward ends of which are pivoted to pawlcarrying plates 648, 642

19, 19A, 21 and 22) carried by the plates B40, 642

Since the illusand biased by springs 6:38, 650 toward the ratchets $32,634 are pawls 652, 55s. Slidingly mounted in a guide 655 secured to thecarrier A l is a detent 658 having a slot 55%) for receiving a stud 662which is carried by the guide and is constantly urged forward by aspring 55%. When the cam I86 is operated in response to actuation of thenail loader arm I98 (Fig. 3) as above described, the lever 23!] movesclockwise from its position illustrated in Fig. 21 causing the pawl $5on the plate 6 22 to move the roll 75. counterclockwise as viewed inFig. 6, to dump nails, then in one of the longitudinal series ofpassages 63!] of said roll,.into conduits 2G4 and causing one of twoteeth of the detent 858 to engage one of a plurality of notches 866 inthe ratchet $34 to hold the roll in position.

When the lever 23G reaches the rear end of its stroke the pawl B52 isarranged on the outer or cylindrical face of the ratchet 632 (Fig. 22)and during thefirst part of the forward or retractive movement of thelever'230 said pawl rides on said cylindrical surface to allow the roll62!) to dwell while the nails are being'dumped, the detent 658 keepingthe roll under control during said dwell. As the lever 230 continues toswing forward the pawl 652 engages one of four notches of the ratchet632, causing the nail roll 828 to move an additional counterclockwise asviewed in Fig. 18 to aline nail passages 630 of the other series ofpairs of passages with the nailways 48, the machine then coming to rest.

There may be used in place of the roll 628v a roll 668 which isillustrated in Fig. 20A and has formed in it two longitudinal series ofnail receiving passages 616 which extend transversely through the roll,the passages of said series lying in longitudinal median planesrespectively of the roll which are arranged at right angles to oneanother, the passages of one of said series of passages being offsetlongitudinally and circumferentially from the passages of the otherseries.

When a switch (not shown) has beenturned on, an electric motor (notshown) drives the belt 58 which supplies power for vibrating the car-'rier .4-, rotating the nail drum 5 3, and operating the nail roll I34and the racewayand nailway clearers. The nails 50 are dumped from-thebuckets 52 of" the nail drum 54 onto the upper ends of the raceways 45and travel down the raceways' and the nailways ifl into the passages 33%of the nail roll I34. When the loader block arm I90 of the heelattaching machine served by the distributor moves clockwise as viewed inFig. 3, it causes the one revolution clutch housed in the cam {86 to beengaged, with the result that the cam-is actuated to rock the nail rollI34 clockwise to 'dump the nails into the tubes 56 leading to the footplate (not shown) of the machine and after a short dwell to move thenail roll closed herein is claimed in a divisional application forUnited States Letters Patent Serial No. 230,758, filed June 9, 1951 inour names.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and-desire tosecure .by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is: r g I 1. In a naildistributor, a nail carrier, means for yieldingly supporting the carrierfor movement in a substantially horizontal" path, a powered unit whichis mounted in the carrier and comprises a member displaceable generallylengthwise of'said path, and a resisting element which isoperativelyconnected to said member, said carrier being movablelengthwise. of said path in response to movement of said member.

2. In a nail distributor, a nail carrier, :means for yieldinglysupporting the carrier for movement in a substantially horizontalpath,'a pow.-

ered unit which is mounted in theicarrier and comprises an elongatedelement one end of which isdisplaceable generally lengthwise of saidpath, and a yieldable resisting member which is operae tively connectedto said one end of said element, said carrier being movable lengthwiseof said path in response to movement of said element. a

3. In a nail distributor, a nail carrier, means for yieldinglysupporting the carrier for movement in a substantially horizontalpath, apow-' ered unit which is mounted in the carrier and comprises an elementhaving a portion displace-- able generally lengthwise of saidpath, and aresisting member which is supported by the car-= rier and is yieldablerelatively to the carrier and is operatively connected to said portionof the element, said carrier being movable lengthwise of said path inresponse to movement of said element 4. In a nail distributor, a carrierhaving a plurality of raceways, means for yieldingly supporting thecarrier for movement'in a path extending generally lengthwise of majorportionsof said raceways, a powered unit supported by the carrier'andcomprising a member having a' displace-- ment componentextending'generally lengthwise 1 of said path, and yieldable means towhich saidmember is operatively connected. 7

5. In a nail distributor, a carrier having a plurality of raceways,means'for yieldingly supporting the carrier for movement in a pathextending generally" lengthwise of the raceways, a powered unitsupported by the carrier and comprising a member having a displacementcomponent extending generally lengthwise of said path, and

a weight which is yieldingly supported by the 1 carrier and isoperatively connected to said member. .1

6. In a nail distributor, a carrier having a plurality of nail; guides,means for. yieldingly sup-- porting thecarrier for movement in a pathextending generally lengthwise of the nail guides,

a powered unit mounted upon said carrier,'z"a weight which is yieldablegenerally lengthwiseof saidpath', a powered eccentric, and a connectingrod one end of which is mounted for-rotation upon the eccentric and theother end of which is secured to the weight.

7 In a nail distributor, a carrier'having a plurality of nail guides,stiff leaf. springs uponwhich the carrier is moun'tedand which arearranged generally at right angles-to the guides and: are constructed toenable the carrier to move yield-I ingly generally lengthwise of saidguides, a powered unit which is mounted upon the carrier, an

element which is operatively connected to said unit and has a portionmovable generally lengthwise of said'guides, and a weight which isyieldingly carried by the carrier and is connected to said portion ofsaid element; Y

